The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-05-13
Letter From Boston.

ELM-EHE OLD POWDER HoUsE-SPRING,
Bunker Hill Monument, Charlestown,
is one of the great attraction for strangers,
and one of the most interesting spots that
revolutionary history can boast of.
The monument is of gray granite, 221
feet high, 80 #. square at the base, and tap
ers gradually to with Is #. OF the apex; the
cap-stone of which is formed of one stone
weighing two and one-half tons.
The inside is hollow cone, with spir-
al flight Of two hundred and ninety five
stone steps leading up to chamber eleven
feet square and seventeen feet high, with
four window.
Its prominent position renders it con-
spicuous object of view on entering Boston
from the northward or by steamer, and
having braved the st orms of this inhospit-
able cline for SO long a period, it now
presents fitting contrast against these
"cold New England skies.
The cornerstone was laid June II, 1925,
by Gen. Lafayette, Daniel Webster deliv-
ering the grafton at the time and again of
floating, June II, 1913 at the dedication
ceremonies on its completion. President
Tyler and Cabinet being present.
The Charles river, with its many bridges
and crescent line beam smoothly down b.
tween Boston, Cambridge and Charlestown,
which permits of a breathing spell to the
multitude who travel between these daily.
Cambridge is only next-door neighbor to
Boston and Charlestown, and horse and
steam railway transit is as you desire it.
Yes, here is the most famous as we'll as
the most ancient University ir this country
with nearly 1000 students and 125 profess
ors and teachers of various grades. The
library for the teachers has 10000 volumes
while the college library has over 10000
volumes.
The most marked building of the Uni
versity is the Memorial Hail." erected at
cost of $500, 1000 by the alumni to com
memorate the sons OF Harvard who died in
the civil war.
On the Common, near the College is a
monument, crowned by the statute of SOL
der, erected in memory of 93S men of
Cambridge who persisted in the late war.
Though a monument of great beauty and
expense. the trained eye of the soldier may
see its defects-the soldier is made to
stand at parade rest with cap in hand
which is very unsoldier like.
From the old and narrow windows of
the colonial buildings to the latest designs
in the Memorial Hall building there is
history rich and rare which you may read
as you view them.
Not far from the College grounds stands
the famous old tree, the Washington Elm,
| its lettering form hraced and interlocked
| by bands and bars of iron in order this t
what may be read on the grant stone at its
base-"Under this tree Geo. Washington
received his commission as Commander in
Chief Of the American forces''-should be
verlible fact. Yet, few more years and
il too will have Joined the "silent majority"
and become brother to the ''insensible
clod."
Near by is the residence of our much be-
loved poet Henry w. Longfellow.
Here too, Old North Ave. with its wide
curbings and handsome elms hears off to
the northward through thickly populat-
ed section, and marked by granite slabs
wherever any noteworthy event may have
happened. At poiut between Arlington
and Somerville, You may read on one of
these stones-''On this site the committee
met &c."-and fancy ifyou please, the
tread of the gallant charger that thunder
ed down this roadway on the memorable
18th of April 1875, or list to the name of
Paul Revere murmured unsteady on the
winds that listeth here, and you have a
thought for the little army that assembled
shortly afterward at Lexington to repel
the invaders of the land.
The Old Powder House, West Somer-
Vile, should have been the spot to receive
the first blood of the revolution, but we
read of its capture by the enemy Sept. LIST
1774 without resistance 2l2 barrels of pow
der belonging to the province falling into
the hands of the enemy-the guards being
asleep at the time.
That New England rejoices in comment
Grating and perpetuating the deeds of our
soldiers past and present is apparent both
by objects and actions, and the pledges
made by our National government to the
soldier, they steadfastly hold, should be
kept, not broken.
To-day, there is bill before the Legis.
lature of the Commonwealth to exempt all
honorably discharged soldiers and sailors
of the late war from competitive examina-
lions under the rules of civil service ex-
animation, and there is every assurance of
its passage.
Our favorite artist has arrived and is
busy at work relieving the buds and bios.
SONS that had lost their color on a too pre-
vious existance, though Continuation of
such delicious balm as we have had for d
few days past will bring old nature out
\ ,r,; l;a0Iy lilo tho HSun ,,